This blog is for Polk County Florida small farms and pesticide applicators as a method of communication and sharing information. This blog is administered by the University of Florida IFAS Extension Polk County Extension Agent, Mary Beth Henry.

Friday, April 4, 2014

Florida Land Steward Update 4/3/14

Florida Land Steward UpdateApril 3, 2014

Have Land? Get a Plan and Stay Connected. Florida Land Steward is your source of assistance, information, events and resources.

News, information and upcoming events below. Please share this update with your neighbors, colleagues or others that may be interested.

UF INTRODUCES NEW FARM WATER FOOTPRINT TOOL A new University of Florida web-based tool measures the so-called “water footprint” of a farm. Water footprints account for the amount of water used to grow or create almost everything we eat, drink, wear or otherwise use. WaterFootprint is part of the AgroClimate system, developed by Clyde Fraisse, a UF associate professor of agricultural and biological engineering. AgroClimate is a web resource, aimed primarily at agricultural producers, that includes interactive tools and data for reducing agricultural risks. The tool is available on line at http://agroclimate.org/tools/Water-Footprint /

FWC SEEKS INPUT ON DEER MANAGEMENT IN NORTH AND CENTRAL FLFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission seeks input and invites the public to a series of meetings in April on deer management in north and central Florida, to discuss establishing deer management units, greater antler regulations, bag limits and antlerless deer days in hunting zones B and C. Click for details. All meetings are from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the following locations and dates:

TO CERTIFY OR NOT: FLORIDA TREE FARM PROGRAM NEEDS TO DECIDESomething that sets the American Tree Farm System (ATFS) apart from all other private land stewardship programs is forest certification. ATFS Tree Farms are currently third party certified as sustainable (or “green”) and products can be sold as such at market. Florida, along with the other states are now being presented with a choice to make: to either stay in or opt out of ATFS Certification status depending on the importance we see in it. The Florida Tree Farm Committee will be required to make a formal declaration by December 31, 2015 of whether or not we want to continue as a state program of “third party certified” Tree Farms. The alternative is to revert to a “recognition” program that no longer has a “certification” status. As Tree Farmers, The Florida Tree Farm Committee would like your opinion of whether Florida should remain in a “certified” Tree Farm program, or drop the requirement for third party certification. Please reply with any comments you may have on this to Phil Gornicki, State Tree Farm Coordinator at 850-222-5646 or phil@forestfla.org.

HELP STILL NEEDED - COYOTES VS BOBCATS: WHAT ARE THEY EATING? The University of Florida is conducting a study of coyote dietary habits in Florida and needs YOU to donate your catch! We are especially interested in how coyotes are affecting white-tailed deer, turkeys, bobwhite quail, livestock, and pets! YOUR help is needed to obtain legally acquired coyote carcasses, with or without pelts. We will also accept coyote stomachs and intestines if you cannot store the whole carcass. Carcasses or stomachs and intestines should be frozen in a suitable bag or container, and include the name of contributor, animal weight/sex, date harvested/obtained, and location harvested/obtained. Arrangements can be made to get carcasses from you at the University or combine your animals with others in your area for a pickup. We have obtained a permit from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for this project, and will keep information provided by you for this project anonymous to the extent possible by law. We greatly appreciate your help with this valuable study!